Southern tier in the summer time

[jbocrie]

Wayne,
         Thanks for the report on the weather and info on Alberta. I am down on deciding to wait until September to bike the ST or ride Nova Scotia and eastern Canada at this point. I promised a lot of friends in Tx that I would ride through their state this year....especially friends near and around Tyler. However, everything is still up in the air....thanks
Jerry

[Venchka]

Jerry,
Now I am jealous! Eastern Canada is a blank spot in my experience that I want to fill. Enjoy!
Add me to the list of folks for you to visit in the Tyler, TX area. I'll be out of Houston for good early next year and living full time about 30 miles north of Tyler. If I am not off backpacking or bike touring somewhere, by all means give me a shout.

Wayne

[jbocrie]

Wayne,    If we get close to Huston, we would love to meet you....follow us at www.tourdebocrie.com we have a gorgeous and wonderful friend in Tyler...Lu Ann harms. You might run into her one day.....stay tuned....ride safe....
Jerry

[bobbys beard]

I did East to West a few years  ago between June and August. It was exceptionally hot during August, (49c around Glamis when I rode through), but certainly rideable if you are cautious and well prepared. A lot of places on the ACA maps were closed for the summer in more remote sections of Texas and Arizona. On the plus side, you get the whole route to yourself. I didn't meet a single touring cyclist during the whole time until I got to California.

I'm not normally one for preferring one direction over another, however riding East to west puts the sun at you back more often, which really does make a difference both physically and mentally.

Interestingly, in contrast with staehpj1, the west was one of my favourite bike rides of all time. I guess it holds a lot of romance for me and I really love deserts. The only section I really disliked was around Phoenix.

[Venchka]

I did East to West a few years  ago between June and August. It was exceptionally hot during August, (49c around Glamis when I rode through), but certainly rideable if you are cautious and well prepared. A lot of places on the ACA maps were closed for the summer in more remote sections of Texas and Arizona. On the plus side, you get the whole route to yourself. I didn't meet a single touring cyclist during the whole time until I got to California.

I'm not normally one for preferring one direction over another, however riding East to west puts the sun at you back more often, which really does make a difference both physically and mentally.

Interestingly, in contrast with staehpj1, the west was one of my favourite bike rides of all time. I guess it holds a lot of romance for me and I really love deserts. The only section I really disliked was around Phoenix.

Having driven east to west (south Louisiana to New Mexico & beyond) and back west to east since forever, I gotta say, "WHAT???" Travelling west into the setting sun from just past noon until 7-8-9 pm is no fun.
YMMV.

Wayne

[bobbys beard]

I always started with the sunrise so never a problem. At my fittest I couldn't often ride more than 80 or so miles every day in 120f heat, so wasn't riding until sunset in the imperial valley area. Other parts of Texas and New Mexico, I had no problems riding until sunset however. Driving is very different!

[Rick.in.AZ]

Jerry,

I live in Phoenix and have been here for 28 1/2 years.  I am training for completing the Trans Am, so am riding in the mornings. So, if you start EARLY (6:00) and finish by 10:00 or 11:00, AND!!!! take a LOT of water, it's doable. Keep in mind that as hot as Phoenix is, the worst is really eastern California (below sea level) and west most Arizona.  Some stretches mean long miles between services, so at times, you may be carrying a couple GALLONs of water.  Remember, it a dry heat you lose body water very fast.

The other thing to consider is that about the end of July, the southwest weather changes - we get moisture off old Mexico and the gulf of California.  That means dust storms with 50 MPH winds and heavy downpours on some afternoons. Neither of those are show stoppers, but in addition, you will see high humidity.  Not like the gulf coast, but enough to mean LOW temps at 90 - 95 degrees some days, and few below 85 from mid July to mid September.  I used to ride to work in it, but sat in front of a fan for 1/2 hour to cool , then took a shower, before dressing and going into work.

So, it can be done, but it's gunna be tough.

Rick

[bobbys beard]

Ricks right about the water. You need to carry a lot of it and you will drink more than you thought was even possible. There's a section of desert between Brawley and (I forget) that takes you through Glamis where I got through around 2 gallons in 80 miles, even more incredible is I didn't have to pee even once and my face was always bone dry.

There were plenty of trucks on the road, so you won't be too far from help if all goes wrong and I checked in with the local sheriff before I set off on that section. He was very nice, pointed out some useful spots on the map and said he would be drivng past a few times during the day.

[John Nettles]

If you drink a lot of water (1+ gallons) be sure to eat some potato chips or other salty foods often too or your electrolytes will get out of wack.  Happened to me once in deep south Texas after I drank about 2 gallons of water only and little food and it was the worst case of bonking I have had in 35 years.  Ironically, I happened to be riding on FM-666 (Devil Road).  It took about 2.5 days to fully recover.